Friday
Jan182002
227 - CEO's Dialogue: Drive Technology for Business & SmartForce Merges with Centra Software
January 18, 2002
#227 - - - Jan. 17, 2001 - - - 42,799Readers
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center www.masie.com
Host of: Skills for e-TRAINERS
1. CEO's Dialogue: Drive Technology for Business
2. SmartForce Merges with Centra Software
3. Skills for e-TRAINERS Lab in Feb & March
1. CEO’s Dialogue: Drive Technology for Business: I have been in Boca
Raton for the past few days, working with a group of 200 CEO’s of the
insurance and financial services corporations. One of the issues that we
have been dialoguing about has been the CEO’s view of technology.
A number of the CEO’s are now looking at tightening the belt on technology
investments. One CEO is now demanding that all IT expenditures be “paid
back” by reduced expenses or increased revenues in 18 months. This has
forced new IT projects to deeply align with business issues. Another CEO
is starting to demand that each new suggestion for technology be totally
wrapped around a desired change in customer or organizational behavior.
I have been pushing this group to seize the technology agenda and to do
increased “behavioral due diligence” before funding new IT projects. The
CEO of the future must be able to drive technology to be a business
solution, measured by how behavior and the bottom line changes, rather
than to just be tech competitive.
2. SmartForce Merges with Centra Software: Two of the major e-Learning
providers have merged. SmartForce has acquired Centra Software, to
combine their content, learning/content management and collaboration
products and services. The sale price is approximately $284 million in
stock. Each company has been profitable and growing, so this is an
intriguing combination. For more details check out www.smartforce.com or
www.smartforce.com Watch for several other major mergers in our space,
as consolidation and maturation increases.
I had a chance to talk with Leon Navickas, Chairman and CEO of Centra,
right after the merger was announced. Leon stressed the size of the
combined organization and the extent to which the company will be
investing in research and development. Leon will become the Chief
Technology Officer, overseeing development.
3. Skills for e-TRAINERS Lab Offered at The MASIE Center in February and
March. There are seats available in our popular blended learning
offering, Skills for e-TRIANERS, which is offered at our LAB in Saratoga
Springs, NY. Dates are scheduled for Feb. and March. Go to
www.masie.com for details and on-line registration.
*** Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS ***
Training, e-Learning and Collaboration Updates
Published by The MASIE Center www.masie.com
Host of: Skills for e-TRAINERS
1. CEO's Dialogue: Drive Technology for Business
2. SmartForce Merges with Centra Software
3. Skills for e-TRAINERS Lab in Feb & March
1. CEO’s Dialogue: Drive Technology for Business: I have been in Boca
Raton for the past few days, working with a group of 200 CEO’s of the
insurance and financial services corporations. One of the issues that we
have been dialoguing about has been the CEO’s view of technology.
A number of the CEO’s are now looking at tightening the belt on technology
investments. One CEO is now demanding that all IT expenditures be “paid
back” by reduced expenses or increased revenues in 18 months. This has
forced new IT projects to deeply align with business issues. Another CEO
is starting to demand that each new suggestion for technology be totally
wrapped around a desired change in customer or organizational behavior.
I have been pushing this group to seize the technology agenda and to do
increased “behavioral due diligence” before funding new IT projects. The
CEO of the future must be able to drive technology to be a business
solution, measured by how behavior and the bottom line changes, rather
than to just be tech competitive.
2. SmartForce Merges with Centra Software: Two of the major e-Learning
providers have merged. SmartForce has acquired Centra Software, to
combine their content, learning/content management and collaboration
products and services. The sale price is approximately $284 million in
stock. Each company has been profitable and growing, so this is an
intriguing combination. For more details check out www.smartforce.com or
www.smartforce.com Watch for several other major mergers in our space,
as consolidation and maturation increases.
I had a chance to talk with Leon Navickas, Chairman and CEO of Centra,
right after the merger was announced. Leon stressed the size of the
combined organization and the extent to which the company will be
investing in research and development. Leon will become the Chief
Technology Officer, overseeing development.
3. Skills for e-TRAINERS Lab Offered at The MASIE Center in February and
March. There are seats available in our popular blended learning
offering, Skills for e-TRIANERS, which is offered at our LAB in Saratoga
Springs, NY. Dates are scheduled for Feb. and March. Go to
www.masie.com for details and on-line registration.
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